As the Ferrari approached the back lot, Adam aimed at the wraith gripping the hood and fired.
“What are you doing? You’re going to kill us!” Gillian shrieked into the phone. Adam could now see her mouth the words he heard in his earpiece. Talia’s face was white, eyes fixed unblinking on the building. Keep it steady, sweetheart.
Adam fired again. He zeroed in on the wraith’s head, bobbing at the base of the windshield, and shot.
The wraith jerked and slid down the hood. Its legs caught under the sports car’s road grip, and the wheels churned the monster behind the vehicle. The body bounced once, and then lay broken on the pavement.
The car veered briefly, recovering from the sudden lurch under the carriage, and then sped to the door.
Talia overshot the entrance. Gillian had her door open and was flinging herself toward Adam before the vehicle came to a stop. The tires left black trails on a sickening collision course with the building. Adam caught Gillian’s arms and pulled her to safety as Custo at his low left discharged another volley. Talia clambered out next, sneakers, then jean-clad legs, emerging in a clumsy climb over the interior leather and out the passenger door.
Adam’s heart stopped beating as the rest of Talia’s body emerged, white-blonde hair shining and waving like a here-I-am flag in the wind kicked up by the idling helicopter overhead.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her into the hollow he made of his body to shelter her, and together dived for the door. They fell on the floor inside, and he hit his head on the wall with a crack he heard but didn’t feel. Custo backed in behind them, gun raised, and shut and secured the door.
Gillian sobbed in a ball on the floor in the corridor, mascara running black trails down her cheeks. Talia struggled to stand, attempting to disengage herself from Adam’s weight.
“Are you okay?” Adam tightened his grip on her waist and held on to her a bit longer. He’d yet to see her face, yet to see how all of this was affecting her. He struggled to kneel, his hands on her body, gripping her arms to turn her to face him, then releasing to nudge her chin up to the light.
She faced him, but her gaze stayed resolutely down. He ducked into her line of sight, to force her to see him. Her eyes were dry and clear. And desolate.
“I was going to run away,” she said, her voice oddly distant. “A wraith caught me and Patty saved me. She traded herself for me. She kissed the monster on its mouth.” Her gaze lowered and slid away from him. Ashamed.
Oh, sweet Jesus. Aunt Pat.
Adam’s grip tightened on Talia’s arms. He gave her a hard shake. “Are you done with running, hiding, and all that shit now?”
“I’m here,” she said hollowly. “Tell me what to do.”
Adam knew that if he asked her right then to walk out of the building and give herself up to the wraiths, she would. Any secrets she had, she’d spill. Her life wasn’t hers now. It belonged to Pat, just as his belonged to his lost family.
Yet the blame wasn’t all Talia’s, not remotely. He should have anticipated something like this and prevented it. Hadn’t he counseled Pat just last night to protect Talia? And hadn’t he sent the women into town without guards to look after them? A million things he should have done, all too late.
“Move,” Adam said. He took Talia by the elbow, and she followed without comment.
“Put me down,” Gillian cried from behind him. Custo must have had to carry her.
Adam tapped in his code at the stairs and the four descended onto the lab floor. Frightened staff members were milling around in front of his office. Decidedly not where they were supposed to be. Restless anxiety riddled their mutterings and movements.
“Ah, shit,” Armand said when he took in the guns and running mascara. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken this damn job—”
“Don’t bitch about it now,” someone murmured.
“Is he out?” Jim asked. He, meaning Jacob.
“No, Jacob is secure,” Adam announced to the group. “Let’s just all stay calm so that Custo and I can assess the situation and give you accurate information.”
“Wraiths got Patty in Middleton,” Gillian blurted. “And Talia’s some kind of freak like Jacob. She let the wraiths have Patty.”
Talia stood apart from the group at the wall, chin only high enough to take whatever the crowd had to dish out. Adam flicked a glance at Custo, and Custo moved to stand next to her. There was no mistaking the meaning—anyone who wanted to touch Talia would have to get through him first.
Adam rounded on Gillian. “Where were you when all this was happening? Why didn’t you help? Fact is, Talia saved your life back there. When you get your head on straight, you’ll be thanking her.”